Director of Jazz Studies

DIRECTOR OF JAZZ STUDIES FACULTY POSITION IN MUSIC

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

The Department of Music of the University of Pittsburgh invites applications from candidates with the exceptional ability for the William S. Dietrich II Endowed Chair in Jazz Studies beginning August 1, 2023, pending budgetary approval. The appointment will be made at the level of Associate Professor or higher, with tenure.

Title: William S. Dietrich II Endowed Chair in Jazz Studies and Director of Jazz Studies

Qualifications: The international reputation of outstanding accomplishment in jazz performance, recording, composition/arranging; record of excellence in teaching jazz performance, scholarship, and related subjects; potential for distinguished leadership in the field of jazz studies; interest in working with colleagues in the University and the wider community; Masters or higher degree in music.

Duties: Oversee and develop long-term visions for the Jazz Studies undergraduate and graduate programs; lead public programming and community outreach efforts, including the annual Jazz Seminar and Concert Week; teach courses on topics related to jazz performance and scholarship; maintain an international profile and participate actively in the profession. Teaching load: 1:1.

We seek a colleague with a special combination of skills as a dedicated musician, teacher, and visionary leader who will help strengthen our Jazz Studies activities, work closely with other members of our faculty, and represent our program within the university and the wider community. We are particularly seeking a colleague to oversee public programming and community outreach efforts, and to mentor student artists and scholars at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The individual hired will work closely with existing facets of the jazz program at Pitt, which offers a rich array of academic and artistic opportunities. These include the B.A. and Ph.D. degree tracks; the annual Pitt Jazz Seminar and Concert; community outreach programs including activities at the Hill District Community Engagement Center; the journal Jazz and Culture; jazz archives including the Pitt Jazz, Erroll Garner, and Dave Burrell Collections; International Jazz Hall of Fame; and William Robinson Studio.

The Department of Music offers the Bachelor of Arts degree in a liberal-arts curriculum and the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees with concentrations in Composition and Theory, Ethnomusicology, Musicology, and Jazz Studies—the nation’s only Ph.D. in jazz research and performance. Further information is available at the Department’s Website: http://www.music.pitt.edu/.

Candidates should submit a letter of application; a curriculum vitae; two samples of their work (depending on the candidate, this may include commercially released compact discs, scores of original compositions or arrangement, published writings, or other representative work samples); and three letters of reference.

To submit the samples of recordings or multimedia work, the candidate should submit a PDF document that includes a link to a cloud-storage service such as Google Drive or SoundCloud, where the materials are stored.

In order to ensure full consideration, applications must be received by February 1, 2023.

The University of Pittsburgh is committed to championing all aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within our community. This commitment is a fundamental value of the University and is crucial in helping us advance our mission, which includes attracting and retaining diverse workforces. We will continue to create and maintain an environment that allows individuals to discover, belong, contribute, and grow, while honoring the experiences, perspectives, and unique identities of all.